Improvement in bearing- for spindles and shafts



dntd States @aient- @wird Leners Parent Jvc-90,781, dated June 1, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT BEARING FOR SPINDLES AND SHA1-"IPS The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom 'itmay concern:

Be it known that I, SALMON W. PUTNAM, Jr., of Fitchburg, in the county of Worcester, and State ot' Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bearings for Lathe-Spindles, Sheds, 85e., of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in whicb- Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved bearmg.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the centre of the same, on the line xx of iig. 2.

Figures 4, 5, and 6, modiicatious, tobe-referred to.

Theiboxes for the reception of the spindle lof a hand or engine-lathe have heretofore been formed in two pieces, let into the frame-work, those portions of the spindle within the boxes being turned down to a smaller diameter than the main portion of the spindle, and being provided with square shoulders, to keep them in place.

This method of construction is, however, objec-` tionable, for,the reason that the lower halves of the boxes do not remain round, as required, but soon bef come worn, causing the spindle to chatter, and al- .lowing'it to drop down out of the central line which l it is designed to occupy; and, when this occurs, it becomes necessary to remove and le down the boxes,

which is a long and tedious operation.

To overcome this diculty, the bearing-portion of the spindle and the interior of the boxes have been made tapering in one direction, which answered a good purpose if a longitudinal pressure was exerted on one side of the spindle only, in such a manner as to tighten the bearing within the box; but, if the pressure was exerted upon the opposite side, the bearing would be crowded away from vthe box, causing it to run loosely therein, and chatter.-

My invention has for its object to avoid all of the,

above-mentioned dihculties; and consists in so inclining, or curving the bearing-portion of aspiudle-or shaft from the centre toward both ends, that wheuit is tted into a box of corresponding form, a pressure exerted longitudinally in either direction will tend to and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried it out.

A represents a spindle or shaft, ythe bearing-portion B of which is made of an increased diameter at the centre, b, and tapers in both directions from this point to the extremities c d.

This bearing runs in a box, O, which is fitted into the stock or frame-work D, and is made in two halves, e j, screwed together at g, the interior of each half of the box being turned out tapering, so that, when the -two halves are screwed together, the interior of the' box will correspond to Ithe shape of thebe'aring-portion of the shaft; and it will thus be seen that a pressure exerted longitudinally in ,either direction upon the shaft A will tend to retainits bearing-portion firmly in place within the box in a true central line, and

it is thus preventedfrom falling below the position4 which it is designed to occupy, while all chattering is avoided, and the interior of the box is caused to 'i' remainround and truc at all times, without regard to wear.

The two portions of the box may be kept up firmly Y against theY bearing, as the parts become worn, by

terior of the portiouf of the box, and forms an oilachamber, which communicates with the cup E above,

- the central position of this oil-chamber serving to insure the equal distribution of the oil on all portions of the bearing.

' The distance of the shoulder k from the end of the portion f of the box is such as to prevent the oil chamber i'from being closed when the two portions of the lbox are screwed close together. A packing, of leather or other suitable material', may be placed around the oil-chamber if desired, to prevent leakage.. a

G isa check-nutvwhich serves to keep the box C -lirmly in place within the stock, or frame-work D.

Instead of the centre o f the bearing being vof greater diameter than its extremities, it may be of smaller diameter, and taper up toward the ends, as

seen in iig. 4, or the bearing may be made convex or concave, as seen in figs. 5 and 6, without departing. from the spirit of my invention, as in either case a longitudinal pressure on one side or the other would tend to tighten the bearing within the box, and retain it iu its true central position, the box for .each bearing being so constructed as to meet the requirements of the case.

A box, divided vertically, and screwed together, -as

C lai'ms.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-v 1. The shaft, having the bearing so inelining, or

curved that a longitudinal pressure exerted in either direction will tend to retain it firmly in place within its box in a true central line, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

2. The boxC, as constructed, and operating substantially inv manner shown, box C being provided with theweentral groove, or oil-chamber i, substantially as described. e

SALMON W. PUTNAM, JR. Witnesses:

JOHN F. HAsKINs,

HENRY O. PUTNAM. 

